Virginia Evens Series With Walk-Off Of No. 13 Virginia Tech

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the second straight game it went to extra innings and this time the Cavaliers came out on top as Virginia (26-12, 7-7 ACC) defeated No. 13 Virginia Tech (30-9, 10-4 ACC) by a score of 6-5 at Palmer Park on Friday (April 7).

The win evened the weekend series with the walk-off win as Leah Boggs scored the game-winner in the eighth inning. The teams will close out the series on Sunday (April 8) with a new start time of 2 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia struck first with a run in the second inning off an infield single from Leah Boggs. With two on and two outs, Boggs popped up and the ball dropped in between first and second. She beat the throw to first and Shelby Barbee scored on the play.

The Hoos added to the lead in the third inning with a bases-loaded sac fly to center from Barbee that scored Gabby Baylog.

Virginia Tech got on the board in the fourth with a two-out single to center from Rachel Castine. Emma Ritter scored on the play, sliding in ahead of the tag at the plate. The play at the plate was reviewed, but upheld.

The Hoos answered in the fifth with a three-run inning, using a wild pitch with the bases loaded to bring a run home before a fielding error at short allowed two more to score.

Virginia Tech tied things up in the seventh with a grand slam from Jayme Bailey.

The Hoos grabbed the win in the bottom of the eighth when Leah Boggs took advantage of fielding error at third to secure the victory for Virginia. Boggs reached on a single and then went first to third on a ball driven to left from Jade Hylton. The throw went to third and was misplayed by the third baseman and Boggs dashed for home, sliding under the tag for the win.

Eden Bigham (10-4) picked up the win in relief, working the final 1.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit with a walk. She entered the game with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and one out and surrendered the grand slam that tied the game.

Molly Jacobson (4-2) took the loss in relief, allowing the one run on four hits with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work.

NOTES ON THE GAME

• It’s the second straight season in which the Hoos and Hokies have gone to game three to decide the series.
• Molly Grube made the start for the Hoos, allowing one run on four hits in 5.2 innings of work.
• Virginia used three pitchers on the night as Courtney Layne worked 0.2 of an inning in middle relief.
• Boggs was 2-for-3 on the night with a run scored and an RBI as the Cavaliers tallied 10 hits.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“We saw a lot of fight, resilience and toughness. This is an extremely competitive series. It’s an in-state rivalry that means a lot to them and to us. I’m proud of our team for staying with it. It would have been easy to throw in the towel or lose our energy. We knew we had it in us. I’m excited about Leah taking a big risk and playing the kind of game she’s capable of playing. If you weren’t here Thursday and you weren’t here on Friday, you want to be here on Saturday because it is going to be hype and exciting and you don’t want to miss it.”

ON DECK FOR THE HOOS
Virginia and Virginia Tech close out the series on Sunday (April 8). First pitch is now set for 2 p.m. at Palmer Park. There will be an egg hunt on the field after the game.

THE SMITHFIELD COMMONWEALTH CLASH

• The rivalry between Virginia Athletics and Virginia Tech Athletics has a long and storied history dating back more than 125 years within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Cavaliers and Hokies first faced off on the gridiron in Charlottesville in 1895. First coined the Commonwealth Clash during the 2014-2015 season, the rivalry has expanded and intensified across the 22 sports the two institutions face off in head-to-head competition.
• The Cavaliers lead this year’s Clash 8-7 with one point on the line with Saturday’s series finale.